Article of office furniture

ABSTRACT

An article of office furniture comprises at least two frames of quadrilateral profile, each frame having a pair of uprights, each upright being formed with two grooves delimiting a core, the core being formed with a plurality of spaced recesses for the engagement of hook-shaped components.

O United States Patent 1191 1111 3,897,103 Rosselli 1 July 29, 1975 [5 1 ARTlCLE OF OFFICE FURNITURE 2,907,471 /1959 Henry 312/351 x 3,087,784 4/1963 Schless, Jr. 312/351 X [76] Inventor: l Rsselh1 3,125,387 3/1964 Abrahamson... 312/195 14181199060" V19 Padova, 1 3,212,836 10/1965 Johnson 312/351 20127 Milan, Italy 3,279,876 10/1966 St. Cyr 312/351 Filed: y 1973 3,722,975 3/1973 Taylor 312/330 [21] Appl. No.: 362,272

Primary ExaminerJames T. McCall Foreign Application Priority Data June 5, 1972 Italy 956147/72 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 312/257 R; 312/; 312/351 [51] Int. Cl A47b 47/00 An article of office furniture comprises at least two [58] Field f ar 257 257 frames of quadrilateral profile, each frame having a 31 A, 257 SM, 195, 198, 111, 07, pair of uprights, each upright being formed with two 357 grooves delimiting a core, the core being formed with a plurality of spaced recesses for the engagement of [56] References Cited hook-shaped components.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,259 9/1924 Stafford 312/ 1 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 ARTICLE OF OFFICE FURNITURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to office furniture, and more particularly to such furniture which may readily be dismantled and reassembled.

An object of the invention is to provide an article of office furniture satisfying the new trend to towards open spaces accomodation which permits the staff to be arranged in groups according to their organizational function and changes to be made in the groupings as required by organizational changes which today are more and more frequent.

2. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided an article of office furniture comprising at least two frames of aluminum alloy presenting a quadrilateral profile, each frame having a pair of uprights, each upright being formed with two grooves delimiting a core, the core being formed with a plurality of spaced recesses for the engagement of first hook-shaped components, each upright having a notch in said core at its terminal ends, a transverse hole being formed in said core adjacent to said notch, and a second hook-shaped component provided with two holes arranged to be aligned with and on opposite sides of, the said transverse hole when the component is mounted astride one of said notches for receiving a connection means to secure the hook-shaped component to the frame.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of species thereof and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows an outside elevational view of a frame of a desk, in this figure as in FIG. 2 an upright has been drawn in sectional view;

FIG. 2 is a similar to FIG. 1 showing a frame of a cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line IIIIII in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line IVIV in FIG. 1 showing a longitudinal sectional view of the frame combined with three components to be described later;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the hook-shaped bracket shown in FIG. 4 (middle component);

FIG. 6 is an elevational view a portion of the frame of FIG. 2 associated with three drawers and a separation wall partially represented;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a drawer and of a frame, the I DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Similar components having the same or similar use will be referenced with like reference numerals.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a shoulder or frame 1 of quadrilateral profile made of cast aluminum or other metallic alloy. The frame 1 has two opposite uprights I each formed with a plurality of holes or recesses 2 uniformly spaced and located in a core defined by two symmetrical opposed grooves 20, 22. Each upright is formed on its inwardlydirected side with a step 23 serving as a seat for the mounting of covering panels (not represented). This conformation is obviously provided only for the two opposite vertical uprights I. At the top and the bottom portions there is provided a notch or opening 7, 77, the bottom notch 7 servingv inter alia for the insertion of support feet 75.

With reference now to FIG. 4, therein is shown a bracket 65 of cast aluminum with a hook-shaped portion 66 and co-operating both with the holes 2 and grooves 20, 22, whereby it is exactly located thereby. In the bracket 65 a number of holes 67 are formed for receiving connection screws (not shown) for support panels P. As is apparent, the degree of freedom of movement of the bracket 65 is counterclockwise (FIG. 4) or lifting movement that is hindered by the weight of the panel and of the bracket.

In order to maintain two frames 1 in spaced relation a spacer bar or transverse member T is provided. Each such transverse member T is provided at its ends with hook-shaped components 66A (similar to the component 66 already described). As seen in FIGS. 4 and 11 the hook-shaped components are of U-shape. The intermediate portion of transverse member T is a profiled member 69 of a length determined according to the required length of the desk.

The mounting of upper traverse TA is slightly different in order to secure a firmer engagement of two frames with one another.

A hook-profiled portion 66C on traverse TA is formed with two aligned opposite holes and is mounted astride of the upper notch 77', provision is made for a connection means, such as bolt V traversing the two opposite holes of the component 66C as well as a traverse hole 2A, formed adjacent to the notch 77, in the above mentioned core (see FIGS. 4 and 11). In other respects the disposition is identical to that already described.

In this way a very strong connection is secured whilst easy dismantling is afforded. A similar assembling may be provided for the lower notch 7.

Castor wheels may be pivoted to a U-profiled support engaging the notch 7 and to be traversed by a screw passing through the hole 2A.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a frame 11 for a cabinet having two or more drawers C, the conformation of these frames being similar to the frame 1 whereby the same references have been applied.

Each drawer consists of a drawer or upper frame moulded of an aluminum alloy provided with two slide members or wings 82, 82A and of a deep drawn metal bottom 79 connected to the drawer frame. Since the drawer frame 80 is of standard configuration, a number of drawers may be available by using the same frame 80. The holes or recesses 2 in the core are also intended for securing by means of the bolts 33 (FIG. 6) the guide members 83, as well as for securing locks 19. The latch of the latter may engage a slot (not represented) cut in the bottom 79 (see FIG. 9). The upper traverse TA is of the same configuration as that already illustrated (FIG. 10). Also in this case, the lower notch 7 may be utilized for receiving castor wheel supports to be secured with a screw.

Separation walls 99 may through intermediary components engaging a hole 2, be hooked to the frame and constitute acoustic barriers against the sound propagation.

Finally attention is directed to pins 39 cast in the inside surface of the frame and providing retaining means for engaging holes formed in a covering panel.

The preceding description makes it evident that the mentioned objects of the invention have been fully attained. In the light of the disclosure changes and modifications within the true spirit and scope of the invention will occur to others, and accordingly it is not desired that the scope of the invention be restricted except as is required by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or priviledge is claimed are defined as follows:

eral profile and including a pair of uprights, each upright being provided with two opposite grooves delimiting a core, said core having a plurality of spaced recesses for the engagement of first hook-shaped components, each upright having a notch in said core at the terminal ends thereof, and a transverse hole in said core adjacent to said notch, said transverse hole having an axis extending parallel to the axis of said recesses, a second hook-shaped component having a hook of U- shape and provided with two opposite holes arranged to be aligned with, and on opposite sides of, said transverse hole when the second hook-shaped component is mounted astride one of said notches, and a connection means engagable in the holes in said second hookshaped component and in the aligned transverse hole in the core to secure the second hook-shaped component to the frame, each upright being provided with a peripheral step to receive a covering panel to be se- 1. An article of office furniture comprising at least cured to the frame.

two frames of aluminum alloy each having a quadrilat- 

1. An article of office furniture comprising at least two frames of aluminum alloy each having a quadrilateral profile and including a pair of uprights, each upright being provided with two opposite grooves delimiting a core, said core having a plurality of spaced recesses for the engagement of first hookshaped components, each upright having a notch in said core at the terminal ends thereof, and a transverse hole in said core adjacent to said notch, said transverse hole having an axis extending parallel to the axis of said recesses, a second hookshaped component having a hook of U-shape and provided with two opposite holes arranged to be aligned with, and on opposite sides of, said transverse hole when the second hook-shaped component is mounted astride one of said notches, and a connection means engagable in the holes in said second hook-shaped component and in the aligned transverse hole in the core to secure the second hook-shaped component to the frame, each upright being provided with a peripheral step to receive a covering panel to be secured to the frame. 